Attachment for electric irons



A. HAUSAM.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC MONS- APPLlCATiON EILED AUGJh l Patented June 28, 1921.

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ADA/v7 HA USA M N/SATTRNEVSZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM HAUSAM, 0F RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC IRONS.

Application filed August 11, 1920. Serial No. 402,821.

T 0 all whom it may. concern Be it known that I, ADAM HAUSAM, a citizen of the United States, residin at Richmond Heights, St. Louis county, issouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Electric Irons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in attachments for electric Irons, and consists in the novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide an attachment for electric irons in the form of an automatically opening circuit closer under thermal control of the heat generated by the iron, whereby the circuit is opened when the iron becomes overheated.

Additional features and advantages reside'in the specific construction hereinafter disclosed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a view of an electric iron showing the attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the attachment with the top plate of the case removed.

Fig. 4. is an end view of the attachment.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the attachment is shown as applied to a usual electric iron construction 1 which is provided with terininal posts 2 whereby the iron is connected with the source of electric energy.

The attachment of the present invention includes a case 3 formed with a removable cover plate 4. Within the case 3 is a channel 5 into which a lead 6 of the electric circuit extends. Near one end of the case and within the channel is a tubular socket member 7 adapted to engage over one of the terminal posts 2 of the electric iron, the lead 6 being connected with a socket 7 by electrical connecting construction 8. A second channel 9 is formed in the opposite side of the case into whichalead 10 of the electrical circuit extends. The lead 10 is electrically connected with a contact plate 11 by a connection 12, and a second contact plate 13 spaced from the contact plate 11 is supported near the forward end of the channel 9 and connects with a socket 14by a connection 15, the socket 14 being arranged to contact with the other one of the terminal posts 2.

The case is formed with an extension 16 from the bottom wall which is bored out to receive and support a stem 17. The stem 17 is actuated rearwardly by an expansion spring 18 nested in a cavity near the front end of the extension 16. A block 19 is supported by the stem 17 and an electric conducting contact plate 20 is carried by the top of the block 19, the block l9 -and the contact plate 20 extending beneath the contact plates 11 and 13.

When the stem 17 is in its forward adjustment the contact plate 20 completes the circuit across the gap between the ends of the contact plates 11 and 13, thereby closing the circuit through the iron. The stem is held in this adjusment by a pin 21 that extends through an opening in the forward end of the stem which is adjacent to the iron body.

The pin 21 is composed of a short length of fusible wire, so that when the body of the iron reaches a predetermined heat, the pin 21 will melt, thereby releasing the stem 17 which is thereupon actuated rearwardly carrying the block 19 and the contact plate 20 to the rearward end of the case and opening the gap between the contact plates 11 and 13, thus automatically opening the circuit for energizing the iron. It Wlll be un derstood that the attachment may be readily readjusted after it has been released by pressing the stem 17 forwardly and inserting a new length of fusible wire in the opening in the forward end of the stem.

The invention possesses the advantage of preventing any undue overheating of the iron body, so as to prevent injury to the resistance material therein, and also to avoid the danger of fire which is so frequent when the iron is accidentally left connected when it is out of use.

I am aware that the invention may be modified in certain particulars without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described, but What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. The combination with an electric iron having terminal posts, of an attachment in-v eluding a case, separate from the iron, sockets in the case designed for slip engagement with the posts, electrical leads, a circuit closer between one of the leads and one of the sockets, means for normally holding said circuit closed, and thermal means for automatically releasing said circuit closer whereby said circuit is opened at a predetermined heat.

2. An attachment for electric irons, comprising a case separate from the iron, a pair of push sockets, in the case, a circuit in connection with said sockets, a circuit closer in said case for said circuit, thermal means under the influence of the heat generated by the iron, whereb said circuit closer is automatically opene when a predetermined degree of heat has been attained in the iron.

3. An attachment for electric irons, comprising a case, push sockets in the case adapted for engagement with the terminal posts of the iron, a circuit in connection with the sockets, a circuit closer in said case including a movable element, a fusible detaining member for holding said movable member in a position to close the circuit, and a spring for moving said member in the opposite direction when said fusible detaining member is released by the heat generated in the iron.

4. An attachment for electric irons, comprising a case, sockets supported by the case adapted for connection with the terminal posts of the iron, an electric lead in connection with one of said sockets, a pair of contact plates, one of which is connected with the other one of the sockets, a lead connected with the other one of the contact plates, a

sliding block, a contact plate for closing the gap between said first-named contact plates, a spring normally actuating said last-named contact plate to open the gap between said first-named contact plates, and thermal means for holding said block in adjustment against the spring, said means being releasable when a predetermined heat has been attained in the iron.

5. A separate attachment for electric irons, comprising a case, sockets supported by the case adapted for connection with the ter minal posts of the iron, a circuit closer in the case including a movable element, a slidable rod in connection with said movable element extending adjacent to one end of the case in proximity to the iron body, a spring encompassing said rod, and a replaceable, fusible pin for holding said spring compressed adapted to be released by heat generated by the iron to permit the spring to open the circuit.

6. A separate attachment for electric irons, comprising a socket connector, a circuit closer contained within the socket connector, an actuator adapted to move the circuit closer to open position, and means including a fusible pin positioned adjacent to the iron body when the socket connector is connected with the iron adapted to hold the circuit closer in closed position.

ADAM HAUSAM, 

